1. I was in Omaha last weekend, and I’m only now getting a chance to sit down and write about it. I sat on a panel about the future of literature, in which I engaged and defeated two older gentlemen in an argument about Wikipedia. They deserved it. And then we did a Dollar Store at the Lit Fest party, and I have to say, I think we triumphed over the audience as well. The only losing battle I waged was against the University of Nebraska football team, who dominated Omaha’s collective attention. I thought it was a joke that everyone in Nebraska watches football on Saturdays. Turns out, it’s no joke.

2. Tonight, if you’re not busy, swing by the Athenaeum Theatre in Chicago for Ian’s Dog & Pony Show. Ian Belknap, whom you may have seen delighting the August DS audience, has put together a pretty spectacular lineup tonight, including comedian Jimmy Carrane, the all-lady improv group Sirens and this guy. 9pm, $15 or pay what you can.

3. I’m still not really over this.

4. Booklist has posted an interview with me, with some pretty tough questions. It also means the review is now online.

5. The Third Coast Dollar Storey event at Steppenwolf couldn’t have been more fun. I was coughing like it was the 16th century, but man, we had a great crowd, interesting discussion of the audio pieces and one guy in the audience said, out of nowhere: “Nostalgia is the sweet wine with the nasty hangover.” It pretty much floored me.

6. I’m completely obsessed with Goodreads.

7. There’s a great write-up of Hiding Out in the Reader this week. There’s also a really nice piece on Literago about the release party.

8. I love the Hiding Out blurb in Chicago Mag this week. It’s not online, and it’s short, so I reproduce it here: “Jonathan Messinger, cohost of the local literature-meets-comedy hour Dollar Store, finds inspiration for this show from dollar store bookshelves. He brings this spirit of randomness to his debut collection of short stories, which is full of lonely, but endearing characters, including himself.” Zing!

9. Don’t forget about the release party, 9/27 at the Hideout.

10. I’m still in love with MC Lyte.